Monday, 9 February 2009

We are almost ready to start making cupcakes. But first, I want to talk a little about the non-ingredients of cupcake recipes. Cupcake pans and other tools you will need to start making your perfect cupcakes.

Cupcake pans are more commonly referred to as muffin pans, so if you have your muffin pan, don't worry it's the same thing!There are 2 main different kinds of cupcake pans. There is aluminum cupcake pan and then there is the increasingly popular silicone pan (silicone muffin pan).

The silicone cupcake pan is becoming more and more popular since it makes cupcake clean up easier and it's also easier to get cupcakes out of a silicone cupcake pan than it is an aluminum one. I still use aluminum. I've been in the cupcake baking business for decades and I like tradition. But I would recommend, especially if you're not quite a seasoned baker yet, the silicone cupcake pan as it will be easier for you to use and create less fuss. Both aluminum and silicone cupcake pans come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors and amounts. You can get a silicone cupcake tray for up to 36 cupcakes. I think the smallest amount is 6, but and generally increases from there in increments of three. Silicone cupcake trays come most commonly in red and blue, but I've seen them on occasion in pink and purple and yellow. Colored kitchen tools are just more fun to use! I myself prefer using pink kitchen gadgets.You can get mini silicone cupcake pans or regular size silicone cupcake pans. The same goes for aluminum cupcake pans. If you are using the aluminum variety, make sure you use a generous amount of non stick spray or butter (I prefer butter but non stick spray is healthier). You can also use a little non stick for silicone cupcake pans. It won't hurt! It will only make things that much easier.Silicone cupcake pans also come in a variety of shapes. The most standard - the cupcake shape (or muffin shape). I've also seen silicone cupcake pans in the shape of hearts, pumpkins, stars and a few other things. If you're desperate for a specific shape and you can't find a silicone cupcake pan in that shape, you can always custom order it!

Now that you have your silicone cupcake tray ready to go, here are a few other things that you will need to complete your cupcake recipe.

You will need two mixing bowls. One for wet and one for dry. You will need a mixer (handheld electric will do). Measuring cups and a pyrex (a glass measuring cup). Measuring spoons. A clean workspace. Clean hands.

To make the cupcake frosting you will need:Mixing Bowl. A standup mixer is preferable for the frosting but if you don't have one a handheld will do just fine.A long flat metal spatula to mix the frosting and to frost the cupcakes! That's it!I will have a whole section of frosting cupcakes which is also something that you need to practice to get right.

No you're ready to make your cupcakes! Take out that silicone cupcake pan and get ready!

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